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The Springbok Women showed grit in the face of a powerful Canadian outfit, fighting back with three second-half tries in a spirited display at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Although Canada - one of the best sides in the women's game - secured a 50-20 win, the Bok Women's improved performance after the break offered encouraging signs as they continue building against the world's best ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
Canada showed why they are ranked second in the world, putting on a show against a South African team that never gave up. The Bok Women, meanwhile, were at times let down by ill-discipline and unforced errors, gifting the Canadians too much easy possession.
Canada opened the scoring in the sixth minute when prop Daleaka Menin crashed over for a converted try, but the Bok Women found some rhythm and were rewarded with a penalty goal by winger Jakkie Cilliers after 15 minutes to make it 7-3.
However, Canada hit back almost immediately when Fancy Bermudez scored from a mistake by South Africa from the restart. They scored two more converted tries in the first half - both long-range efforts by Flo Symonds and Laetitia Royer - to take a 26-3 lead into the break.
The Springbok Women started the second half very well and managed to keep possession through some phases before hard-working flanker Sizo Solontsi popped a great offload to Cilliers, who cut in on the angle and raced 40m for a superb try, which she converted to make it 26-10.
However, the joy was short-lived as Canada again scored from a restart mistake, this time with Alysha Corrigan going over in the corner.
The Canadian right wing bagged her second 10 minutes later and with the sideline conversion finding its target, their lead grew to 38-10.
With the personnel changes at the back starting to find their feet - Nadine Roos moved to scrumhalf, Eloise Webb came in at flyhalf, Libbie Janse van Rensburg slotted in at inside centre and Byrhandre Dolf at fullback - there was move fluency on attack.
The reward came after 62 minutes when Dolf went over for a great try from a strong midfield scrum to make it 38-15.
The Bok Women started playing with more composure and eight minutes later Solontsi crashed over from a tap-and-go penalty which resulted in a strong maul to make it 38-20.
Symonds scored her second to take Canada past 40 points and break some of South Africa's momentum, and in a last-ditch effort to play with width, Caroline Crossley intercepted right at the end to make it 50 for the visitors.
The second Test is next Saturday in Gqeberha.
